2 layers289 × 107.5 mm
Z88 Mechanical Keyboard ANSI
BrettHallen/Sinclair
Projects for Sinclair computers (ZX80, ZX81, TS1000, TS1500, TS2068, Spectrum and clones)
71 parts5
2 layers289 × 110 mm
Z88 Mechanical Keyboard
BrettHallen/Sinclair5Projects for Sinclair computers (ZX80, ZX81, TS1000, TS1500, TS2068, Spectrum and clones)
- Size
- 289 × 110 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 72
- Nets
- 16
- Pads
- 226
- Tracks, vias
- 259, 1
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
- Created
- 21 May 2025
- Updated
- 22 Oct 2026
Overview
Z88 Mechanical Keyboard is an open-source printed circuit board by BrettHallen, from the BrettHallen/Sinclair repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 289 × 110 mm with 72 parts on 16 nets, routed with 259 tracks and 1 via.
It belongs with the keyboards and input boards of this library.
README
Z88_Serial_DE9-to-DB25/README.mdZ88 Serial Port Converter
The Cambridge Computers Z88 has a DE9 serial port with the following pinout:
| DE9 Pin | Signal | Purpose | DB25 Pin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +5V | do not use | n/c |
| 2 | TxD | transmitted data | 2 |
| 3 | RxD | received data | 3 |
| 4 | RTS | request to send | 4 |
| 5 | CTS | clear to send | 5 |
| 6 | unknown | do not use | n/c |
| 7 | GND | signal ground | 7 |
| 8 | DCD | data carrier detect | 6 & 8 |
| 9 | DTR | data terminal ready | 20 |
To connect to a device with a DB25 plug we need to through-connect the DE9 pins to the equivalent on the DB25 side. Additionally, we need to connect DB25 pin 6 (DSR, data set ready) to the DCD signal.
Note that DB25 pin 1 is Protective Ground (PG) and must not be connected to signal ground.
Z88 side: DE9 male
DB25 side: DB25 female
Parts
72| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | MountingHole | MountingHole:MountingHole_3.2mm_M3 | H1, H2 |
| 2 | ~ | PCM_Mounting_Keyboard_Stabilizer:Stabilizer_Cherry_MX_2.00u | KB1, KB3 |
| 1 | PCM_Mounting_Keyboard_Stabilizer:Stabilizer_Cherry_MX_2.00u | KB2 | |
| 1 | /FORWSLASH/ | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW49 |
| 1 | 2 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW20 |
| 1 | 3 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW21 |
| 1 | 4 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW22 |
| 1 | 5 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW23 |
| 1 | 6 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW24 |
| 1 | 7 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW56 |
| 1 | 8 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW64 |
| 1 | 9 | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW61 |
| 1 | A | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW35 |
| 1 | B | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW47 |
| 1 | C | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW45 |
| 1 | CAPS_LOCK | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW33 |
| 1 | COMMA | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW42 |
| 1 | D | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW37 |
| 1 | DELETE | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW8 |
| 1 | DIAMOND | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW26 |
| 1 | DOT | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW41 |
| 1 | DOUBLE_QUOTE | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW58 |
| 1 | DOWN | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW14 |
| 1 | E | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW29 |
| 1 | ENTER | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW16 |
| 1 | EQUALS | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW6 |
| 1 | ESC | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW17 |
| 1 | F | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW38 |
| 1 | G | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW39 |
| 1 | GBP | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW57 |
| 1 | H | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW40 |
| 1 | HELP | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW2 |
| 1 | I | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW63 |
| 1 | INDEX | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW25 |
| 1 | J | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW54 |
| 1 | K | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW53 |
| 1 | L | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW51 |
| 1 | LEFT | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW12 |
| 1 | M | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW52 |
| 1 | MENU | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW34 |
| 1 | N | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW48 |
| 1 | O | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW62 |
| 1 | ONE | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW19 |
| 1 | P | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW60 |
| 1 | Q | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW27 |
| 1 | R | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW30 |
| 1 | RIGHT | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW13 |
| 1 | S | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW36 |
| 1 | SEMICOLON | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW50 |
| 1 | SHIFT_LH | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW10 |
| 1 | SHIFT_RH | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW1 |
| 1 | SPACE | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW11 |
| 1 | SQUARE | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW9 |
| 1 | T | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW31 |
| 1 | TAB | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW18 |
| 1 | U | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW55 |
| 1 | UNDERSCORE | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW5 |
| 1 | UP | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW15 |
| 1 | V | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW46 |
| 1 | W | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW28 |
| 1 | X | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW44 |
| 1 | Y | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW32 |
| 1 | Z | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW43 |
| 1 | Z80 Address Bus | Clueless_Engineer:55203148 | SK6 |
| 1 | Z80 Data Bus | Clueless_Engineer:55203148 | SK7 |
| 1 | ZERO | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW59 |
| 1 | [ | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW3 |
| 1 | \BACKSLASH\ | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW7 |
| 1 | ] | Clueless_Engineer:SW_Gateron_LowProfile_THT | SW4 |
| 1 | ~ | PCM_Mounting_Keyboard_Stabilizer:Stabilizer_Cherry_MX_7.00u | KB4 |
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Questions
How big is the Z88 Mechanical Keyboard PCB?
It measures 289 × 110 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Z88 Mechanical Keyboard use?
72 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Z88 Mechanical Keyboard KiCad files?
From the BrettHallen/Sinclair repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is Z88_Mechanical_Keyboard/ISO_Layout/Z88_Mechanical_Keyboard.kicad_pcb and its schematic VDriveZ88_Serial_Converter/SurfaceMount/VDriveZ88_Serial_Converter_SMD.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Z88 Mechanical Keyboard design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask BrettHallen before reusing the design.